Steamer and pressing device



Feb- 15, 1955 H. c. A. MEYER STEAMER AND PRESSING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed July 7, 1950 INVEN TOR. #5N/ev C. A. M55/ER Arme/wrm Feb. 15, 1955 H. c. A. MEYER 2,701,926

STEAMER AND PRESSING DEVICE Filed July 7, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 l 4 -qllllun'llllln-Illllu-'ll l N I/ E N y #EN/QV @A M/fyf@ Feb. 15, 1955 H. c. A. MEYER STEAMER AND PREssING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 7, 1950 ww NN INVENTOR. /v/f/v/QV 67A 4451/5@ BY Jini/n1 94 AWO/@Vim United States Patent() STEAMER AND PRESSING DEVICE Henry C. A. Meyer, Syracuse, N. Y.

Application July 7, 1950, Serial No. 172,463

6 Claims. (Cl. 3816) This invention relates to steamer and pressing devices and more particularly to integral steamer and pressing machines.

Heat, steam and pressure in appropriate combination are the prime factors for acceptable and successful garment pressing. It is not only important that these factors be combined, but that the combination be effected in such manlner as to encourage the operator to produce optimum resu ts.

in conventional pressing machines steam serves a dual purpose: supplying heat for pressing and providing water vapor to soften the garment fibers. The steam utilized has been supplied from a remote source, such as a gasred boiler, and conveyed by pipes to the two pressing elements, the head or upper movable element and the buck or lower stationary element. In order to obtain suficient heat the steam pressure utilized must be rather high, because of the definiteV relationship of steam pressure to steam temperature. Steam of elevated pressure and temperature is more drying than steam of lower pressure and temperature, which is undesirable in pressing since the presence of substantial amounts of water vapor is required to soften the garment fibers. Also, this elevated steam pressure has required the use of heavy cast sections of metal, thus resulting. in ay heavy movable pressing element.

A heavy pressing head or upper element presents two diiliculties or disadvantages. The rst is that because of its thickness the head has high heat capacity and hence requires a substantial warming up period as well as a substantial loss in unusable heat energy when the machine is shut down. The second is that a heavy pressing head with its inherent high value of mass inertia often requires the operator to assist his foot pedal effort with hand effort to obtain a type of performance peculiar to his skill. Thus the amount of work required to operate the conventional heavy pressing head is very large and leads to physical fatigue after operation of such a machine for a reasonably short time, thereby interfering with the production of a high quality of pressing.

Skilled operators usually smooth the material being pressed by hand prior to and. even during the lowering of the pressing head, and this quality of hand smoothing or laying the work is permitted full expression when the pressing head is foot operated because of what appears to be the psycho-physical relationship of hand and foot movement. However, because of the reduced alertness and reaction response of the operator due to physical fatigue after a short period of operation of conventional heavy construction machines, some manufacturers have provided power-operated pressing heads powered by compressed air and, in the interest of safety, have provided a control mechanism for operating the head in the form of two hand controls or buttons positioned to be necessarily operated by separate hands and which must be operated simultaneously in order the cause movement of the head. This safety requirement thus requires the operator to keep his hands away from the work to be pressed. It interferes, however, with the hand smoothing of the work, which is thus either neglected or done more hurriedly if the operator is to maintain a satisfactory work output, or produces a lessened work output if time is taken to smooth the work properly by hand in between the successive movements of the head by simultaneous opera-tion of the two control buttons.

Recognition of this important factor of allowing hand smoothing free of any hindrance entailed in the operation A i,

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of the machine has led to the vast majority of pressing machines bought by operators today being equipped for foot lever operation in spite of the availability of the air operation machines with their safety feature. Thus, apparently, this factor in pressing know-how must be preserved.

Accordingly, an object of my invention is to provide a steamer and pressing machine capable of foot lever operation but which reduces to a minimum the amount of work that must be expended in the normal operation thereof, thus reducing physical fatigue on the part of the operator.

Another object of my invention is to provide such a machine in which the moving head or upper pressing element is of light weight to achieve this result.

Another object ot' my invention is to provide such a machine having a light weight pressing head of little heat capacity and supplied by a quick response heating element of high capacity with control of temperature of the heat source.

Another object of my invention is to provide such a machine in which the pressing head heating element is not primarily heated by the steam, thus allowing steam of relatively low pressure to be used for softening the cloth fibers. As pointed out above, the use of low pressure steam provides a further advantage in that low pressure steam is not as drying as high pressure steam and therefore possesses better wetting properties, which is desirable in pressing.

Another object of my invention is to provide such a pressing machine including an integral steam generator therewith of the instant type in order to have quickly available and in ample supply the low pressure steam required by the machine.

Another object of my invention is to provide such a pressing machine in which a part of the lower pressing element or buck forms a chamber or reservoir for steam produced in the integral steam generator, thus providing a reserve supply of steam for moments of peak steam use while at the same time supplying heat for the lower pressing element or buck.

My invention will be better understood from the following description when taken with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a partially cut-away side elevation, view from the left, of a steamer and pressing machine in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a partially cut-away front elevation of the same machine, omitting the upper pressing element or head thereof;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional View adjacent the central transverse plane of the upper pressing element or head;

Fig. 4 is an expanded view of a portion of Fig. 3 illustrating in greater detail the construction of the upper pressing element or head;

Fig. 5 is a partially cut-away plan view from above of the upper pressing element or head, showing its internal construction and the placement of the electric heating element;

Fig. 6 is an exploded view illustrating the construction of the perforated pressing plate of little heat capacity of the pressing head;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to that of Fig. 6 and shows the placement of the controlling thermostatic device; and

Fig. 8 is a circuit diagram showing the connections of the heating element, the thermostatic devices and other circuit elements.

Referring now to `Eig. l, the steamer and pressing machine shown is supported by a steel framework 10, on the upper extremity of which is borne a pin l2. A lever arm 13 is pivoted adjacent one end thereof on pin 12. To the other end of lever arm 13 is secured the upper pressing element or head 14, which is shown in its lower and operating position and cooperating with lower element or buck 15 for pressing materials therebetween. Between the first-mentioned end. of lever arm 13 and projection 16 extending from frame 10 is attached a helical coil spring 17, which biases pressing head 14 in its upper position, shown in dotted outline.

The movement of upper element or head 14 is controlled by means of a linkage connected to pin 1S projecting from lever member 13 between pin 12 and that end of member 13 to which is fastened pressing head 14. Clevis 19 is borne by pin 18 and is secured at its other end to one end of connecting rod 20. The other end of connecting rod 20 is pivotally connected to lever 21 by means of pin 22 borne by the latter adjacent one end thereof. The other end of lever 21 is pivotally supported by pin 23 projecting from main frame 10. The force required to lower pressing head 14 into the position shown is supplied by the operators foot and is applied to lever 21 from a conventional foot pedal and a connecting linkage (not shown for clarification of the drawing), as the operator stands in front of the machine spreading the material to be pressed over the pressing buck 15 and smoothing it with his hands.

Pressing buck 15 includes an extended perforated plate 25 of arcuate cross section and is covered with a conventional pressing pad 26. Plate 25 is supported longitudinally thereof along its center upon tubular chamber 27 (see also Fig. 2) and is also supported and spaced from lower plates 28 by means of transverse members 29. Two lower plates 28 are provided, one on either side of tubular member 27 and secured to and extending longitudinally thereof, as shown in Fig. 2. The free edge of each lower plate 28 and the adjacent edge of perforated plate 25 are joined by means of a bar 30, thus forming a steam chamber upon either side of tubular member 27. Holes are provided in each transverse plate 29 in order to provide free access for the steam throughout the length of each of these chambers.

The pressing buck assembly thus far described rests upon and is attached to insulating board 31, which in turn is supported by steel plate rectangular column 32, shown partially cut away in both Figs. l and 2 to reveal the internal construction of the pressing buck assembly. Column 32 is supported on plate 33, which forms a part of the overall framework and is surmounted by a table 34. An insulating and supporting cradle 35 supports the extended end of the pressing buck assembly, as shown in Fig. 2, and is in turn supported by cantilever arm 36, whose other extremity is attached to column 32. As best shown in Fig. 2, bars 30 include portions extending transversely of the pressing buck to seal the ends of the two steam chambers formed between perforated plate l and lower plates 28.

Steam generator 35a, preferably electrically heated, is positioned below vertical column 32 and communicates with tubular chamber 27 by means of pipe 36a. As pointed out above, this steam generator should be of the instantaneous or flash type in order to provide an appropriate, adequate, and related quick response to steam demands for an ample supply of low pressure steam and without the necessity for a warming-up period as required in gas-fired boilers now conventionally used in pressing establishments. Such an instantaneous steam generator is described and claimed in my copending application entitled Instant Liquid Heater, Serial No. 169,707, tiled June 22, 1950.

To the lower head of steam generator 35a is attached a second outlet pipe 38 whose steam flow is controlled by means of valve 39. A conventional steam pressure gauge 40 and safety valve 41 (see Fig. 2) are connected in outlet pipe 38 between steam generator 35a and Valve 39, as is a pressure-sensitive device or pressurestat 42 (see Fig. l) for controlling the operation of the steam generator 35a.

A lateral opening or aperture 45 is provided in outlet pipe 36a and is connected through valve 46 and thence through twin pipe set 47 to the two steam chambers provided within pressing buck 15 as above described. The space within tubular chamber 27 provides a reservoir of low pressure steam, thus insuring a reservoir supply thereof for moments of peak steam use and at the same time supplying heat for pressing buck 15. Steam admitted to the two chambers within pressing buck 15 when valve 46 is opened by the machine operator passes upwards through the perforations in perforated plate 25 and through pad 26 to moisten and soften the fibers of the material or fabric being steamed and pressed.

A second valve 50 also connects with twin pipe set 47 and with an outlet pipe 51 leading to a suction source (not shown), such as a motor-driven vacuum unit. Thus, bv operation of valve 50, water vapor applied to the fabric being steamed and pressed, together with any eollected water vapor in the two side steam chambers of pressing buck 15, may be withdrawn at the discretion of the operator during the conventional operation of the pressing machine.

Another opening 53 (Fig. 2) is provided in outlet pipe 36a and connected through pipe 54 and manually-operated valve 55 to the interior of pressing head 14, the constructional details of which are best shown in Figs. 3-7.

As shown in Fig.` 3, which is a cross-sectional View adjacent the central transverse plane of pressing head 14, manually-operated valve 55 communicates with the interior of pressing head 14 through fitting 56 to allow the passage of steam therein at the discretion of the operator whenever the manual control arm 57 of valve 55 is operated. Referring also to Fig. 4, it will be noted that the pressing head 14 is formed of thin perforated metal plates 58 and 59 curved for cooperation with the arcuate surface of pressing buck 15. Metal plate 59 constitutes the actual pressing plate of the machine since its lower surface contacts the material being pressed. Between arcuate metal plates 58 and 59 is sandwiched electric heating element 60 of the grid type (see also Figs. 5-7) and a thin porcelain enamel coating is applied to the surfaces of plates 58 and 59 abutting heating element 66 in order to prevent the shorting of adjacent grid lengths of the heating element.

The pressing plate and heating assembly thus far described is spaced from the upper supporting member and cover plate 61 by means of an extended loop-shaped spacer member 62 (see Fig. 5), which thus forms a central steam chamber 63 in pressing head 14. An inclined closure plate 64 encircles the remaining space within pressing head 14, being joined to the edges of metal plate 5'8 and cover plate 61, as best shown in Fig. 4. A circumferential closure member 65 of U-shaped cross section encircles pressing head 14 at the joined edges of closure plate 64 and metal plates 58 and 59 and seals these as shown, and the joint formed between cover plate 61 and closure plate 64 is secured and sealed by means of bolt and nut connections 69.

Transverse triangularly-shaped stiffening ribs 66 are provided at regular intervals in the circumferential space surrounding steam chamber 63, as shown in Fig. 5. Insulating material 67, which may, for example, be glass fibers or rock wool, is used to ll this circumferential space between adjacent stiffening ribs 66. In certain of the spaces between adjacent ribs 66 are positioned thermostatic devices 68 whose responsive elements extend through apertures provided in metal plate 58 (see Figs. 4 and 7) and abut the electric heating element 60. Again, in order to prevent the shorting of adjacent grid lengths of electric heater 60, a layer of insulating porcelain enamel is provided on that surface of the responsive element of each thermostat which abuts the heating element.

In Fig. 5 has been shown a plan View from above of the pressing head 14, which is illustrated partially cutaway in order to bring out more clearly the structural details. The right-hand portion shows the view from above of the pressing head 14 with the cover plate 61 and the inclined closure plate 64 in place and secured by means of bolt and nut connections 69 and encircling closure member 65. The left-hand portion of the figure is a plan view with the cover plate 61 and inclined closure plate 64 removed, and the central portion of the figure illustrates the positioning of the electric heating element 60 as viewed from the bottom of metal plate 58.

In order to obtain precise control of the heating of various portions of the pressing head 14, in this embodiment I have provided electric heating element 60 in four separate portions, one portion being shown Vcompletely in Fig. 5 and parts of two other portions also being visible. A thermostatic device 68 is, of course, provided for each heating element portion, the position of that thermostatie device controlling the complete portion of heating element 60 shown being indicated by dotted lines. As shown by Fig. 8, the various heating element portions are conventionally connected in parallel-by wire 60a to a suitable source of electric power, each being connected thereto through the switching elements of their respective thermostatie device 68. Preferably, the line from the electric power source supplying al1 four portions of heating element 60 in parallel is connected through a master cut-out solenoid operated switch 80a, the pilot circuit of which is connected @donnee contacts of switch 80= are' actuatedv by meansy of.. button 81,v located suitably ont lever arm 1321s shown, through pin` 8,2 of switch. 80.. Button 81- contacts' and: depresse's pin 82 when pressing head 14V is inl its extreme upper position, shown in dotted outlinein Fig.- 1. Pin 81 actuates the enclosed electrical contacts of switch 80; which are arranged to be closed when: the pressing head 14' is lowered even slightly from its extreme upper position, and remain closed in all positions of head: I4' except this extreme upper position. The inclusion of switch 80 in the circuit supplying power to the electric heating element 60 for conversioninto heat is` intended to make the steamer and pressing machine more' efficientV by preventing power from being applied to heating element 60 of pressing head 14- whifle the latter is in its upper land non-operating position. It is not necessary `to apply heat to pressing head 14 when the latter is inl its extreme upper posit-ion because ofy my pressing plate 59 being of little heat capacity and abutting the quick response heating elements 60,- and thus the pressing head k14 can be heated practically instantaneously under the control of the respective fhermostatic devices 68 as the pressing head 14 is being lowered during operation of the steamer and'l pressing machine. r

Figs. 6 and 7 are exploded views showing the details of perforated metal plates 58 and 59 separa-ted and insulated from the grid-type electricheating element 60 sandwiched therebetween by means of the thin layers of insulating porcelain enamel shown. Note that, as illustrated in Fig. 6, the perforations in metal plates 58 and 59 register withone another and are disposed in the space between adjacent lengths of heating element 60 in order to provide a clear passage for the steam owing from steam chamber 63. Preferably the lower or exposed working surface of metal pressing plate 59 is nickel plated or of stainless steel inorder to provide ajpolished smooth,V durable, non-adsorptive and easily cleanable surface for contact with the material being pressed. ,e

Fig. 7 illustrates in greater detail the placement of a typical quick response thermostat-ic device 68 abutting heating element 60 but separated therefrom by means of the thin layer of insulating enamel shown. This insulating enamel is, of course, unnecessary if a thermostatic device is utilized having such a small responsive element abutting heating element 60 that it does not bridge any adjacent grid lengths of the heating element. Note that thermostatic device 68 is provided with terminals 70 and 71 for the electrical switch contacts therein and is also provided with an adjustment control 72 for varying the temperature at which the switch contacts are actuated.

The purpose of having the quick-response thermostatic device 68 abut the heating element 60 is to limit the temperature of the latter, whereas in known applications of thermostatic devices, these are generally responsive to temperature changes of surfaces or areas removed from the heat source. In conventional pressing machines masses of material are purposely added to smooth the heating and give a flywheel effect, these added masses acting as heat storage means in order that heat may be obtained therefrom during periods of peak heat demand.

In my invention I reduce the mass to a minimum and make quickly available a maximum of heat-producing capacity. Accordingly, it becomes necessary to limit the temperature of the heat source 60 to avoid overheating the latter during the short intervals of time when the heat production is much greater than the heat consumption and during which heat would be required to travel to the conventional point of sensing.

A high capacity heat production rate with a low rate of heat consumption produces a rapid temperature rise. By controlling the temperature at the source, I reduce the peak temperatures of the heating element 60 and thus produce more uniform maximum temperatures thereof as well as longer life for the element.

While l have provided a particular embodiment of my invention as required, the principles of my invention are of broader application in ways which will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Numerous additional applications of these principles will occur to those skilled in the art and no attempt has here been made to exhaust such possibilities. The scope of my invention is defined in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

l. In. a machine for pressing garments and the like and.- including. a framework mounting a pressingv buck and' a reciprocative support constructed and arranged to position a pressing head and to move it to and from pressing association with said buck; a pressing head mounted by said support and` having a working face formed by a plate so thin that it cannot store enough heat byitself to release enough stored heat during said association for effective and practical` pressing action, aY thin layer of electrical insulation directly contacting the top surface of said plate, an electric heating element directly contacting the top surface of said insulation and having enough heating' capacity to supply continuously the heat required for said action, an electric circuit for connecting said element with electric power, an electric switch means controlling said circuit and constructed and arranged for actuation by movement of said head to close said circuit when said ,head moves to said association and to open saidcircuit when said head moves from said association, and a thermostatic switch device in direct closely-coupled thermal contact withk said element and electrically connected with said circuit and constructed to open and close said circuit in response to the temperature of saidelement, said element being of the grid type and a plurality of mutually registered pe-rforations being formed through said plate and layer free from said element to form steam passages, the upper portion of said plate being enclosed to define a steamv chamber thereover.

2. In a machine for pressing garments and the like and including a framework` mounting. a pressing buck and a reciprocative support constructed and arranged to position a pressing head an to move it to and from pressing association with said buck; a pressing head mounted by saidv support and having a working face formed by a plate so thin that it cannot store enough heat by itself to release enough stored heat during said association for effective and practical pressing action, a thin layer of electrical insulation directly contacting the top surface of said plate, an electric heating element directly contacting the top surface of said insulation and having enough heating capacity to supply continuously the heat required for said action, an electric circuit for connecting said element with electric power, an electric switch means controlling said circuit and constructed and arranged for actuation by movement of said head to close said circuit when said head moves to said association and to open said circuit when said head moves from said association, said element being formed by sections and said circuit connecting said sections in parallel, and a thermostatic switch device for each of said sections .with each device in direct closely-coupled thermal contact with its section and connected therewith and constructed to open and close said circuit thereto in response to the temperature of said section, a second plate similar to the rst-named plate being positioned above said element and a thin layer of electrical insulation being interposed therebetween, said element being sandwiched between said plates with the interfaces of said element, plates and insulation layers pressed together, said element being of the grid type and a plurality of mutually registered perforations being formed through said plates and layers free from said element to form steam passages, the upper one of said plates being enclosed to define a steam chamber thereover.

3. A pressing machine heated pressing head having a pressing surface formed by a thin sheet-like wall having over its upper surface an electric heating element separated therefrom by a thin sheet-like layer of electrical insulation and with said element and layer pressed against said wall for direct heat conduction thereto, a second thin sheet-like wall being positioned above said element and separated therefrom by a thin sheet-like layer of electrical insulation and said element and layers being tightly sandwiched between said walls, whereby to form a light-weight heated pressing surface wall assembly of small heat-storage capacity, said element being of the grid type, and said walls, element and layers having a plurality of mutually registered opening for the passage of moistening fluid.

4. In a machine for pressing garments and the like and including a framework mounting a pressing buck and a reciprocative support constructed and arranged to position a pressing head and move it to and from pressing association with said buck; a pressing head mounted by said support and having a working face formed by a plate so thin that it cannot store enough heat by itself to re* lease enough stored heat during said association for effective and practical pressing action, an enclosure co-acting with said plate to form a steam chamber, said plate being provided with means permitting the passage of steam therethrough, a thin layer of electrical insulation directly contacting the top surface of said plate, an electric heating element directly contacting the top surface of said insulation and having enough heating capacity to supply continuously the heat required for said action, an electric circuit for connecting said element with electric power, and a thermostatic switch device in direct closely-coupled thermal contact with said element and responsive to temperature changes therein, said switch device being electrically connected with said circuit and constructed to open and close said circuit in response to the temperature of said element.

5. In a machine for pressing garments and the like and including a framework mounting a pressing buck and a reciprocative support constructed and arranged to position a pressing head and move it to and from pressing association with said buck; a pressing head mounted by said support and having a working face formed by a plate so thin that it cannot store enough heat by itself to release enough stored heat during said association for effective and practical pressing action, an enclosure c0- acting with said plate to form a steam chamber, said plate being provided with means permitting the passage of steam therethrough, a thin layer of electrical insulation directly contacting the top surface of said plate, an electric heating element directly contacting the top surface of said insulation and having enough heating capacity to supply continuously the heat required for said action, an electric circuit for connecting said element with electric power, and a thermostatic switch device in direct closely-coupled thermal contact with said element and responsive to temperature changes therein, said switch device being electrically connected with said circuit and constructed to open and close said circuit in response to the temperature of said element, said element being of the grid type and arranged between said switch device and said plate and said switch bridging adjacent grid lengths and being electrically insulated therefrom.

6. In a machine for pressing garments and the like and including a framework mounting a pressing buck and a reciprocative support constructed and arranged to position a pressing head and move it to and from pressing association with said buck; a pressing head mounted by said support and having a working face formed by a plate so thin that it cannot store enough heat by itself to release enough stored heat during said association for effective and practical pressing action, an enclosure co-acting with said plate to form a steam chamber, said plate being provided with means permitting the passage of steam therethrough, a thin layer of electrical insulation directly contacting the top surface of said plate, an electric heating element directly contacting the top surface of said insulation and having enough heating capacity to supply continuously the heat required for said action, an electric circuit for connecting said element with electric power, said element being formed of a plurality of sections separately connected to said electric circuit, and a thermostatic switch device in direct closely-coupled thermal contact with each section of said element and electrically connected with said circuit, and constructed to open and close the circuit through said section in response to the temperature of said section.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,272,638 Dulaney Iuly 16, 1918 1,562,246 Nelson Nov. 17, 1925 1,603,269 Carroll Oct. 19, 1926 1,649,506 Brewer Nov. 15, 1927 1,865,151 Strobridge June 28, 1932 2,177,476 Castricone Oct. 24, 1939 2,215,959 Gough Sept. 24, 1940 2,311,164 Ekstedt Feb. 16, 1943 2,403,655 v Grimes July 6, 1946 

